Centering Prayer

Basil Pennington, a proponent of the Centering Prayer technique, has delineated the following guidelines for Centering Prayer:

1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
2. Choose a simple sacred word that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you.
3. Let that word be gently present as your symbol of your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you.
4. Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your sacred word, your anchor.
5. At the end of you time take a few moments to slowly come to consciousness and say a favorite prayer like the Our Father.
6. Reserve about 20 minutes twice a day for the practice.

An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer By Fr. John Mergenhagen: http://www.wnyreligion.net/mergenhagen-contemplative-prayer.html

http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/private/32977/field-file/cp-english.pdf
Pamphlet from above Contemplative Outreach Page:

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Centering-Prayer
http://www.livingrosaries.org/centeringprayer.htm

Five Kinds of Thoughts: "Centering Prayer" Fr. Basil Pennington, 100-106

1. Simple Thought
2. Catching Thought
3. The Monitor
4. The Bright Idea
5. The Stressful Thought